Community Reviews

It is a true ‘gift’ when the reading public receives a book with wit, charm, and adventure all wrapped up in a plot that speaks volumes about friendship, the twilight years of your life, the power of women, and the way this world looks at its senior citizens - the most powerful guides on the planet who are being treated unforgivably.

We begin in 4400 BCE in a small community of neighbors and friends. They worship the Goddess who brings them healthy crops, healthy children, and offers them a warm,It is a true ‘gift’ when the reading public receives a book with wit, charm, and adventure all wrapped up in a plot that speaks volumes about friendship, the twilight years of your life, the power of women, and the way this world looks at its senior citizens - the most powerful guides on the planet who are being treated unforgivably.

We begin in 4400 BCE in a small community of neighbors and friends. They worship the Goddess who brings them healthy crops, healthy children, and offers them a warm, comforting place to live. The people ‘see’ this Goddess through the old shaman who loves, protects, and keeps her community together; she answers questions, and calls upon the Goddess for help. When she sees the images and is told the stories of the ‘pale men on four-footed creatures’ who are riding towards them night and day, ready to destroy their village as they have the ones before, the shaman tells her people to pack up and leave - follow a new path and live to fight another day and she will one day - someday - see them all again.

Immediately readers are taken into the 1980’s in Long Beach, California where the world is certainly changing right before this community’s eyes. A group of seniors - made up of some very powerful and completely hysterical women - are friends in this small, sunny world. Headed up, per se, by Emma Clare (age 97), who still lives in her own residence while most of her friends live inside the Center Towers Retirement Residence, this group of “crones“ hold a huge amount of power.

One day, as a few of the friends are walking outside to the stores, buses, etc. - they witness the confusion and fear that now threatens their streets. Bullies, gangs, drugs - every bit of evil is crawling into their small community. While some of the women feel that they need to be quiet and not spark trouble, others think it is time for them to reveal their Secret Lives; bring back the “circle” and begin to use their powers to make the streets safer and change the world for the better.

Readers are brought into the Wiccan world by these incredible ladies. From being able to release a dragon into the air to begin the transformation of the City; to being able to come together to talk to friends on the ‘other side,’ these women - with the next generation of witches by their side - are indestructible. There are doctors and nurses within the retirement home - some good, some evil. As well as family members and other characters introduced who either wish to help the elderly, or simply want to drug them so they will be quiet and out of the way. The women even receive a “familiar” - a truly funny cat by the name of Madame Blavatsky - who helps the women by ‘reading’ people and being able to travel to another time and place - to the heavens and beyond.

This intricate story is so captivating with such vivid, detailed characters, that readers will fall in love with this coven of “crones” immediately. But the added extra ‘gift’ is the huge amount of information that readers will get to learn about. Everything from ancient rituals, history, religion, witches, to the state of our elder-care system which is truly ‘Hell on Earth’ is presented. This author deserves a huge amount of applause and respect for creating this title!

To the Author:

On a personal note: I read in your Author’s Note that acquisitions departments over time have said to you that no one will want to read about crones, goddesses, and magic - I truly BELIEVE that you WILL prove them all wrong in 2011. Much luck and love to you,

I keep a small shelf of novels I know I’ll want to read again – when I want to be entertained, inspired or sometimes just for comfort when stuck indoors. Among others, on that shelf are Mists of Avalon and Woman on the Edge of Time. Secret Lives is about to join them.

There’s so much to like! Lots of interwoven stories so that you really get to know all the characters. I loved the way that ageing and its issues were dealt with, so seldom does one find this in fiction. Many of our heroines are oldI keep a small shelf of novels I know I’ll want to read again – when I want to be entertained, inspired or sometimes just for comfort when stuck indoors. Among others, on that shelf are Mists of Avalon and Woman on the Edge of Time. Secret Lives is about to join them.

There’s so much to like! Lots of interwoven stories so that you really get to know all the characters. I loved the way that ageing and its issues were dealt with, so seldom does one find this in fiction. Many of our heroines are old, but the word “feeble” never comes to mind; these are powerful women, with incredible resources and friendships. It’s an inspiration to read.

It’s also an education all by itself. The author has a vast store of knowledge of spiritual paths and mystical systems. There are also many literary references – lots of Shakespeare, but also Donne, Chekhov, Lewis Carroll and many more besides, plus lots of references from mythology and popular culture. You certainly get your money’s worth.

Barbara Ardinger has a deft touch with just about everything, from knockabout comedy to the most moving of passages. Her dialogue works – there’s never a false note. I read the book in a final proof version; imported into the Kindle application on my mobile phone and sometimes, I have to admit, at work during quieter moments. I normally feel safe doing this as I seldom laugh out loud when reading, but – you guessed it! Fortunately, I managed wave aside the inevitable enquiries as to my sanity. I don’t often cry openly at books either and had to swallow hard a couple of times.

The stories grabbed me and refused to let go until I’d read to the end. Besides the humour and sadness, I experienced huge anger and disappointment at the way the women were being treated. I thoroughly enjoyed the way they dealt with this, but you’ll have to read the book to find out!

Among my favourite characters were the Reverend Debbee, who I think must spend time in Glastonbury when not in California, for I’ve met her more than once there. I also loved Frances J Swift, whom I’ve also come across a time or two. There’s a talking cat, too, called Madame Blavatsky. I’m not usually a huge fan of talking cats (or of any other animals suddenly giving voice) but Madame B just grows on you.

I found the Reader’s Guide on the author’s website of great value, too. I’ve been reading American novels since (aged around nine) I found my mother’s secret stash of rather racy books, and don’t often get flummoxed by cultural differences, but once or twice I found the notes helpful in this respect. Mainly, however, I enjoyed the them for added value they provide.

I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a good read, not to mention gift ideas for the forthcoming season. What a treat!

This book was shockingly good. The book is huge, 560+ pages, but it is definitely worth reading. The plot centers around female friendship and the elderly, especially how the elderly are treated. The little bit of magic rounds out the plot and leaves the reader feeling a little bit whimsical.

The author begins in 4400 B.C.E. where a small community worships a deity who is supposed to provide for them. The shaman allows for contact between the community and the deity. The shaman delivers a distur

This book was shockingly good. The book is huge, 560+ pages, but it is definitely worth reading. The plot centers around female friendship and the elderly, especially how the elderly are treated. The little bit of magic rounds out the plot and leaves the reader feeling a little bit whimsical.

The author begins in 4400 B.C.E. where a small community worships a deity who is supposed to provide for them. The shaman allows for contact between the community and the deity. The shaman delivers a disturbing message one day, the people must leave or risk being trampled by pale men. The shaman promises that she will see them one day again. Then the setting shifts again.

The reader will find him/herself in 1980 with a group of senior citizens. Some are funny, some are "strong women," and some are one sandwich short of a picnic basket at times. The women are quite literally strong though, Wicca is brought up. The women may want to open up their "secret lives" and hopefully help their neighborhood-recently threatened by thugs.

This book contains memorable and enjoyable characters, intriguing events, and a huge store of knowledge concerning different aspects of Wicca. The reader will easily connect to the main characters and be able to focus on them completely. The ending was satisfying, this book is recommended to adult readers....more

The book begins with a story of a Shaman in Neolithic Old Europe. By the end of the book the reader will understand the importance of this Shaman. The poem, Gimme Back My, lists all the things we wish we had back from our youth.

This story takes place in the 1980s in Long Beach, California. It follows the lives of a Circle of Crones that live in and around a retirement facility named Center Towers. These women had decided to retire their magic until they see the changes happening in the neighborhThe book begins with a story of a Shaman in Neolithic Old Europe. By the end of the book the reader will understand the importance of this Shaman. The poem, Gimme Back My, lists all the things we wish we had back from our youth.

This story takes place in the 1980s in Long Beach, California. It follows the lives of a Circle of Crones that live in and around a retirement facility named Center Towers. These women had decided to retire their magic until they see the changes happening in the neighborhood. They start meeting and holding rituals with their daughters and friends to turn the area around. And I cannot leave out the animated cat.

This book is broken down into 26 short stories. Each story focuses on a different woman of the Circle. This allowed the character to grow and develop as we learned about her life. A few of the women only play small roles in the stories but left an indelible mark on the other women. The stories honor all aspects of a woman’s life from menarche through death.

By the time I reached the end of the book I felt as if I knew all of them. To me, they were real women facing health issues along with growing older. With each story I would say to myself, “This is my favorite” and they I would read the next and feel the same way. I enjoyed this book so much I have already reread it and I still cannot pick just one as my favorite.

I was sad when I got to the end of the book realizing I wouldn’t be following their lives anymore. The women had become like family to me and I miss them and their antics. I hope when I am their age I will be as active and can work with a wonderful group of Crones. This is a book for all women. It reminds us life doesn’t end when we become Crones. It just gets better!...more

A long but wonderful story, reminiscent of Starhawk's "Fifth Sacred Thing." There aren't many books out there with the depth or breadth of this book. The central plot revolves around a group of neo-pagan women living in a retirement center, but branches out to encompass the lives of daughters, friends, and others in the community. Their stories are braided together with grace and wit. Each chapter reads like an episode in a television series. You can read a chapter, put down the book, think abouA long but wonderful story, reminiscent of Starhawk's "Fifth Sacred Thing." There aren't many books out there with the depth or breadth of this book. The central plot revolves around a group of neo-pagan women living in a retirement center, but branches out to encompass the lives of daughters, friends, and others in the community. Their stories are braided together with grace and wit. Each chapter reads like an episode in a television series. You can read a chapter, put down the book, think about it, visit the author's Reader's Guide site, and move on to the next chapter. Ardinger digs deeply into issues that contemporary neo-pagans face in their private lives, in their covens, and in public. Although this is a work of fiction, a book like this couldn't have been written without first-hand knowledge of life in the shadowy neo-pagan subculture. Highly recommended for a realistic view of neo-pagan lifestyles, ethical concerns, as well as a steely-eyed view of the lives of the elderly in America. ...more

While described as a novel, this book is more like a series of vignettes, linked by common characters. In each chapter, the main characters- a group of aging women of magic and power- face a different issue or problem. And they are big issues, issues that face the baby boomer generation more all the time: aging and how it affects both body and mind, illness, homelessness, sexuality, prejudice, death, but most of all, friendship and love. While these women all are witches, their power doesn’t shiWhile described as a novel, this book is more like a series of vignettes, linked by common characters. In each chapter, the main characters- a group of aging women of magic and power- face a different issue or problem. And they are big issues, issues that face the baby boomer generation more all the time: aging and how it affects both body and mind, illness, homelessness, sexuality, prejudice, death, but most of all, friendship and love. While these women all are witches, their power doesn’t shield them from these issues. They may be able to do a lot of healing, but they can’t stop time.

Getting to know these women over the course of the book- over 600 pages- was a delight, although there are so many characters it took a while for me to be able to remember who was who. Thankfully, there is a cast of characters in the front! Not everyone in the cast is a crone- there are also some middle aged offspring and even one teenager, whose initiation into the magical group is one chapter. There are men in the lives of some of the women, as husbands, sons, nephews, lovers. Then there is Madame Blavatsky, reincarnated as a cat with magical powers and a great sense of humor.

There is no story without tension, and there are a lot of characters to provide that. The people that run the retirement home some of the women live in are horrible. One is a busybody, intent on micromanaging the lives of the tenants and the other hates women with a passion. The doctor on staff (there is a hospital floor to tend to the needs of the tenants) is greedy, incompetent and soulless. Teens in the neighborhood are harassing the elderly. When some new neighbors move in who also have magical powers, all hell breaks loose. And throughout the novel, one question keeps coming up: whether or not to come out of the broom closet. The story is set in the 1980s, when there was a huge growth in the number of modern pagans, so it’s not inconceivable that they could have done it. But one of the women’s grandmothers was attacked more than once for being a witch and was finally burned to death in her house. Things like that make some of the women absolutely refuse to let out the secret that they are Goddess worshipers and witches. In the end, each woman has to make the decision for herself; whether to come out, and possibly share her knowledge, or stay safe and risk letting her knowledge die with her. If you like magical realism, fantasy, or pagan fiction, give this book a try. ...more

Being of the male persuasion I had my doubts as to how much I would relate to and be drawn into a novel about a group of older women who follow Goddess traditions and teachings. After reading Secret Lives I now see that my doubts were wholly unfounded and that Barbara Ardinger has written a marvelous book that is engaging, heartwarming and even instructive if you are open to the spirit in which this novel was written. The grandmothers, the daughters and the granddaughters of this novel are wellBeing of the male persuasion I had my doubts as to how much I would relate to and be drawn into a novel about a group of older women who follow Goddess traditions and teachings. After reading Secret Lives I now see that my doubts were wholly unfounded and that Barbara Ardinger has written a marvelous book that is engaging, heartwarming and even instructive if you are open to the spirit in which this novel was written. The grandmothers, the daughters and the granddaughters of this novel are well drawn characters that personify the struggles that women in general face living in a world that still sees them as worth less than their male counterparts but in particular it also delves into the struggles that women face who follow a spiritual path that does not adhere to a patriarchal model that has come to dominate this modern world we live in.

This book is a long, complicated read but very interesting and original. There are very few books which celebrate the lives, wisdom and power of older women as this one does. Centred around an old people's home in California in the 1980s/90s, and a community of local women who celebrate the ancient religion of the Goddess. The novel discusses issues which are vital for all of us baby boomers: aging, death, freedom of expression and of living, how society treats older people.Imaginative, enjoyablThis book is a long, complicated read but very interesting and original. There are very few books which celebrate the lives, wisdom and power of older women as this one does. Centred around an old people's home in California in the 1980s/90s, and a community of local women who celebrate the ancient religion of the Goddess. The novel discusses issues which are vital for all of us baby boomers: aging, death, freedom of expression and of living, how society treats older people.Imaginative, enjoyable, a little rambling (but that's OK) and magical in several senses of the word....more

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ! I couldn't put it down and was sad when my journey through it ended. So refreshing to get a peek into the lives and minds of the so seldom honoured Crone.Kudos to Barbara Ardinger for this ! I hope we get another peek at the lives of these colourful characters.....!!